Starting Monday, April 6th Bull Shoals theater is having an open Monday night "Jam" every Monday night. The format will change from previous years as all forms of live entertainment and entertainers will be welcome on stage. Muscians, comedians, story tellers, other entertainers of all ages will be welcome to perform. So if you can play an instrument, if you can tell "tasteful" jokes, anecdotes, or stories, if you just sing, or in general just plain able to entertain folks, you are welcome to come up on stage. No one doing any form of tasteful entertainment will be turned away. So come all you musicians, singers, and entertainers for a night of pure fun.

Based in western Massachusetts Erica Wheeler is an award-wining singer/songwriter with six CD's to her credit. She has headlined clubs from Boston to Berkeley and shared the stage with Shawn Colvin, Indigo Girls, Greg Brown and more. Her music charted in the Top 10 on Billboard's Gavin Americana Chart and she has been a featured guest on NPR's All Things Considered. Her most recent CD Good Summer Rain was sponsored in part by the Trust for Public Land, a national land conservation organization.

Erica has six recordings to her credit. She released her first two on her own Blue Pie label (waitress shorthand for blueberry pie.) Strong Heart (1989) came out on cassette while she was still waitressing. From That Far (1992) followed on CD, launching her official start as a national touring artist.

In 1996 Erica took home first place in the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Troubadour contest and was signed to the Signature Sounds label where she released her breakthrough CD The Harvest. Produced by bluegrass veteran Laurie Lewis, The Harvest was released to critical acclaim, "This is new folk at its best" Acoustic Guitar Magazine. It solidified her reputation as one of the finest touring artists to come out of the New England folk resurgence in the 90's. It also garnered her a feature interview on NPR's All Things Considered, a top 10 spot on Billboard's Gavin American Chart.

Erica's next recording, three wishes (1999) was released on Signature Sounds to more critical acclaim. Almost Like Tonight (2004) followed on her own Blue Pie label, with assistance from Signature Sounds. Good Summer Rain (2008) was her next studio recording and is by far her most outstanding release to date. Released on her own Blue Pie label with radio assistance from Signature Sounds, Good Summer Rain was sponsored in part by the Trust for Public Land.

Known for her visual, cinematographic style of songwriting, Erica Wheeler's songs take listeners on a journey though the American landscape and the lives lived there with poetic beauty and grace. Her music is pure Americana, falling into the categories of folk, country and bluegrass. On stage, armed with an acoustic guitar and her richly expressive voice, Erica is also known for her engaging warmth, colorful stories and hilarious stage patter.

This show was completely sponsored and booked by The Arkansas State Parks Association.

The Bull Shoals Theater is proud to present Steven Spalding a nationally known: Singer, Songwriter, Author, Cowboy Poet and Country Gospel Artist. Steven was nominated by the C.M.A. as an Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocaslist of the Year, and having the Best Single of the Year by the Country Music Association of Nashville.

Also appearing with Steven Spalding is Steve Anthony. Many of you will remember Steve Anthony as the multi-talented bass player from past Monday night Jams who moved to the bright lights of Branson. Steve started playing and singing at the early age of five, growing up in a musical home with a mother that was a Patsy Cline imitator and a hard working truck driving father, who always provided a good income and every musical instrument that the family band needed. Because of his mothers country and western band, she needed Steve to be an accomplished player Steve had to learn every instrument making him fluent in playing Lead guitar, Bass guitar, Acoustic guitar, Steel guitar, Dobro, Mandolin and Fiddle. Steve is a very Strong Lead Vocalist and Back Harmony singer . by the age of 18 Steve formed his own band and played the night club circuit across the U.S. Steve's life was changed forever on June 7th 1991 when he gave his heart to Jesus as he listen to a Dallas Holmes song called Rise Again . He no longer sings or writes songs for the world .for he has a mission now to reach the lost through his testimony through songs that he sings and writes This past year he has won numerous competitions and awards for his Singing/Songwriting /Musicianship winning , Gospel song of the year, Holiday song of the Year ,Male Gospel Entertainer /Male New Gospel vocalist of the year at the North America Country Music Association International convention held in March of 2007 in Pigeon Forge TN.

And also appearing is Anita French Kidd who in her own rights an accomplished Singer/Songwriter and a Branson C.G.M.A. member.

Folks you all know that Mike Huckabee and his band "Capitol Offense" are no strangers to Bull Shoals Theater of the Arts. Mike and his band was approached by Ken "Kenny" Starkey our resident Sound Engineer, talent booking person, and an Executive Board member of the theater to play a show. Well the result was a sold out event and one of the best shows we have had at the theater.

Kenny, as most of you know, has had his share of health problems. Kenny has weathered through numerous back surgeries, throat cancer, and now recently a major heart-attack and some strokes that were previously undetected. Carol, Kenny's wife was also recently affected by the "corporate down-sizing" that affects so many of us. So now the family is left without health insurance to face mounting medical expenses.

Mike was so impresed by Kenny and the Bull Shoals Theater Of the Arts, that Mike agreed to perform a benefit show for Kenny where all proceeds go directly to Kenny and his family towards the rising medical expenses.

Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas, recently made an impressive run for President of the United States and in the process, America fell in love with “the other man from Hope.” Huckabee’s personal charm and quick wit were revealed in stump speeches, debates, and his many television appearances on: Jay Leno, David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show with John Stewart, Hannity & Colmes, The Colbert Report, CNN and FOX News… just to name a few. However, few folks realize that Huckabee is also a rock ‘n roll performer at heart. First and foremost, Mike Huckabee possesses a wealth of knowledge about government, world affairs, and important issues of the day that make him uniquely qualified to lead the world’s only super power, but he also possesses a love for rock ‘n roll.

Mike Huckabee grew up in Hope, Arkansas listening to classic rock on the radio like every other teenager in America during the 1960s. Early on, his parents bought a guitar from Sears & Roebuck and he quickly learned enough chords (three) to stumble through most songs from the era. Mike Huckabee later had his own band, “The Bois Darc Boogie Band’, while still in high school.

But marriage, family, and a career as a Baptist minister took center stage and rock ‘n roll was forced to take a back seat to the obligations of becoming an adult. However, his entry into politics in 1992 would bring him back to the music of his youth.

Shortly after becoming Governor of Arkansas in 1996, Mike Hucakbee and staff members DeWayne Hayes and Chris Pyle were discussing their love of music, and specifically, classic rock ‘n roll. After learning that each played different musical instruments, they decided to have a jam session in the basement of the Governor’s Mansion. With Mike Huckabee on bass guitar, DeWayne Hayes on lead and Chris Pyle on drums, the trio recruited investment banker & guitarist, Rick Calhoun, and Capitol Offense was born.

The band’s name reflected the fact that most members worked in the State Capitol on the Governor’s staff, and as Hucakbee often says, “before the end of the night, we will have offended just about everybody.” The basement of the Governor’s Mansion was converted into a makeshift studio where the band would often play late into the night – that is until First Lady, Janet Huckabee, decided she wanted her house back. Capitol Offense was then forced to begin rehearsing elsewhere.

The band’s first gig was for a staff Christmas party and staff members gave endorsements such as, “Wow, you guys aren’t as bad as we thought you would be.” From those humble beginnings, Capitol Offense went on to share the concert stage with such acts as: “Grand Funk Railroad”, “The Charlie Daniels Band”, “Willie Nelson”, “Percy Sledge”, “Dionne Warwick”, and “.38 Special”. They have played at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver, Colorado, House of Blues in New Orleans, King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas, the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, and the Delta Music Festival in Ferriday, Louisiana.

The band has also performed at conventions in New York City, Los Angeles, Orlando, Florida, and Inaugural events in Washington DC – not to mention numerous campaign events in Iowa, New Hampshire, Texas, and around the country. The band also performed in 2008 at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The current band is made up of original members Mike Huckabee (bass), Chris Pyle (drums), and Rick Calhoun (guitar), as well as Gordon Caffey (lead guitar), Marynell Branch (keyboard), and three vocalists, Terri Cox, Steve Pyle, and Aaron Black.

Capitol Offense is a band that plays a mix of classic rock, Motown, country, and blues. The band intentionally shuns the trendier hit-makers, preferring older tunes. "We don't try to play trendy stuff," Huckabee has said of his band's musical tastes, "nothing without a long shelf life." The band’s set list contains classic songs from: The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Lynard Skynard, Elvis, Otis Redding, Chuck Berry, Steppenwolf, Creedence Clearwater Revival , and many others. Their set also contains contemporary country from the likes of Brooks & Dunn, Alabama, and even a few gospel tunes.

Mike Huckabee is the hosts of the number one rated weekend hit TV show, “HUCKABEE,” on the Fox News Channel, and is heard three times a day on the “Huckabee Report” on the ABC Radio Network. Governor Huckabee is sought after as a public speaker while he continues to write books. His most recent book, “Do The Right Thing”, became an instant hit on Amazon.com shortly its release in November. Mike Huckabee appears regularly on national radio and television as a political commentator. He also continues to make huge political waves and is a promising political star in America’s future – but he still rocks with Capitol Offense.

If you like your blues with a big hard drivin' sound, you 're going to love Big Red & The Soul Benders. Big Red & The Soul Benders are going to be at Bull Shoals Theater for night of Blues plus an open invitation all Blues jam. Yes any of you that can sing or play the Blues are invited to come up on stage and jam with this band. So bring your voices or your instruments this night.

This award winning band churns out rockin' blues that are second to none. Led by the husband and wife team Mike & Kelley "Big Red" Taylor.

Based in Mountain Home Arkansas, Big Red & The Soul Benders is a nationally touring band that regularly plays the mid -mid south area's . The group began out of Big Red's love for the blues, and has since won the 2005 Arkansas Blues and Heritage award given to the best new blues band at the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival. In 2006 they won the Texarkana Blues society's Battle of the bands to be in the International blues Challenge in 2007. They have gone on to win the Sonny Boy Blues society's Battle of the bands , this win got them to the main stage for the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival (AKA King Biscuit Blues Fest). Big Red & The Soul Benders will again be in the International Blues Challenge for the year 2008.

Big Red is a two time invitee to the National Women in Blues Festival in Wilmington NC Having shared the stage with acts such as Willie King, Blind Mississippi Morris, Billie Able, Dave Riley, EG Kight, Deanna Bogart and many others too many to mention. Big Red is the first woman to ever do a live show on the King Biscuit Time Radio Show and has appeared many times on the show with "Sunshine" Sonny Payne.